Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. Most commonly found in children, the main symptoms of this disorder is a lack of attention and too much activity or excessive daydreaming. Ritalin is the drug of choice to treat ADHD.

Scientifically known as AD/HD (Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder), there are three types:
1)The predominantly hyperactive-impulsive type
2)The predominantly inattentive type
3)The combined type
The term ADD is a term that has circulated the media which has the same meaning, but generally applies only to the predominatly inattentive type.
The proven causes of AD/HD are low glucose levels in the brain and genetic factors (inheritance via a family member).
The most effective treatments of AD/HD are medications such as Adderall and Ritalin. Diet changes may also help, but cannot be guaranteed (changing diet to fish oils and fatty acids).
Finally, AD/HD is a legitamate disorder and to say otherwise is complete and utter bullshit, not to mention an opinion supported by backward old farts who still spank their children.

If you are consistently restless and/or have trouble paying attention in class on a regular basis, chances are you have AD/HD!

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.. Over diagnosed Learning disability. For those that really are ADHD it sucks. The people that are "normal" take adderall,ritalin etc to study for tests while we have to take it every fucking day just so we can sit through class without getting distracted by the lamest things.

Person without ADHD:
"I took an adderall/ritalin/concerta/strattera to study for my test thats today..I could possibly kill myself using this but who cares at least I get a good grade"
Person with ADHD:
"Get a fucking life.... I have to take it everyday so I can be normal"

A very real disorder that often faces a lot of skepticism. This is largely due to the fact it is a very overprescribed and misdiagnosed illness, even more so then SSRI's for depression.

The most widely believed neurological cause of adhd is a problem with dopamine(catecholamine responsible for pleasure\reward system) over efficiency in the transport of dopamine leads to the reuptake before it's full effects are gained.

Dopamine is also vitally important when it comes to motivation and what we can derive pleasure from. eg. normal person can do activity A for hours adhd person being identical to the normal person but having the overactive reuptake loses interest and the ability to persevere with activity A much much faster.

This dopamine problem becomes especially problematic when it comes to the frontal lobes leading to problems with attention, memory and problem solving.

Stimulant based drugs such as ritalin(methylphenidate) adderall(l-amphetamine, d-amphetamine), dexedrine(d-amphetamine), desoxyn(d-methamphetamine) all work by inhibiting the dopamine reuptake and by releasing dopamine, this works by fixing a lot of the dopamine related problems theorised to be the cause of adhd.

This ridiculous overprescribing needs to be stopped though, testing needs to be improved because at the moment it just gets handed out like candy. Just because billy is lazy and doesn't like doing his homework does not mean he should be slapped on prescription speed for the next 10 years of his schooling.

Generic soccermum : "I need an excuse for the incompetence of my son who really doesn't have adhd, little do I know this is just something else my child doesn't need, oh look an ad for depression you know i was feeling kind of sad the otherday when a family member died I think i need a 12 month prescription to paxil or zoloft"

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is a very real disorder that is over diagnosed. People with ADHD have difficulty sitting still, being quiet, and focusing on things at length. These sensations are difficult to explain unless you have them; it is not that the person does not want to focus, or that they are stupid. When someone with ADHD tries to focus on something, the thought often slips away, or is replaced by another thought - minutes later they will realize they have lost focus.

When a person who does not have ADHD takes ADHD medication, they get high. When a person with ADHD takes ADHD medication, they feel calm, and can focus on things for the first time in their lives.

People with behavioral issues unrelated to the disorder (acting out, seeking attention, etc.) are often incorrectly diagnosed with ADHD. People who just want the diagnosis so they can get their hands on ADHD drugs will pretend to have ADHD symptoms, as well. This is very frustrating, as it diminishes the integrity of those who actually have ADHD, and require medicine to be able to function like normal people can.

People with ADHD are often above average in intelligence. When they are given medication and can function without a mental handicap keeping them down, their whole lives can change for the better.

An absolute gift from god that lets a small sample of people have the ability to actually see this generations version of "normal" for the mundane bullshit it is. If it was for people like this, its likely the word would stay put, and advancments in science and art would never happen. Usally a person with ADHD already "gets" wtf a teacher is saying 2 minutes into her elementary boring ass lesson, and their brains branch to deeper thoughts that need answering, vice the simple bullshit that is still, and will continue to come of her mouth for the next 5 days.

Teacher: O.K. class so today where going to learn a deep and interesting subject about the solar system. So we have all the planets, around the sun.....

*While the rest of the class wrestles to grasp this simple shit*

Timmy's ADHD mind: How do we know that, who said so, whats stopping us from going there, who found this out, Hubble telescope? How do we know that pictures are the same in space as they are on the planet. How much funding does NASA get?

Teacher: Timmy why don't you sit and pay attention, raise your hand, and do you work quietly like the rest of the class.

Timmy: Well Ma'am, if I was as stupid as the rest of these idiots I would, and if you weren't as stupid as you are, you'd give me somethin TO ACUALLY LEARN.